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MICHAEL Palin found Monty Python can get a laugh – even in North Korea. The actor, 75, was visiting the reclusive country for a Channel 5 documentary when he put the classic show’s humour to the test.

His North Korean guide had never heard of the comedy programme, so he showed her a clip.

He said: “We had brought along Python clips, including the fish-slapping dance. It’s one of those things where, you either have a sense of humour or you don’t.”

The sketch shows Palin and co-star John Cleese hitting each other with fish to orchestral music.

“You don’t have to know the language, you just look at two grown men hitting each other with fish and falling in a canal. And we played it and [the guide] looked at it, and she just cracked up, she really laughed, she really gets the idea of it.”